After a few days, Bella calls Jacob, but it’s hard to reach them. She asks her dad to call Harry Clearwater, who says that the phone lines are down, and Jacob has mono. No visitors are allowed. Something sounds off, but she can get nothing more from them.

Charlie, preparing to go fishing, notices her mood change and offers to stay home with her, but Bella says she’s ok. He warns her to stay out of the woods: He’s heard more reports of large animals, including tracks around a missing hiker’s campsite.

Bella ignores his advice and drives out to resume her search for the beautiful meadow. The forest feels creepy, and her loneliness about Edward gets worse. On this hike, though, she locates the meadow. It’s still wonderfully serene, but it’s not special without Edward. Agonized, she squats down and curls into a ball. She’s grateful at least that Jacob isn’t there to see her reaction and her sudden desire to get out of there.

As she stands, someone emerges from across the meadow. It’s the vampire Laurent, once a friend of James, who tried to kill her. Recently, Laurent was allied with the non-violent Alaskan coven.